Captain Power

The ultra-rare Power Base, courtesy the Keenan Collection, pictured with several basic ships.

Describing Captain Power to someone who has never heard of it before is one of the great joys in my life. The show was created
by J. Michael Straczynski who
would go on to create and write Babylon 5. It was on Saturday mornings, in 1987, and was in no way a kids show. I remember
being introduced to this amazing gritty, dark, serious world - and what made it even more immediate and amazing was that
you were able to interact with the TV using your toy ship. It was like the Nintendo light gun suddenly worked with an
awesome, futuristic TV show about the end of the human race at the hands of machines. While some aspects of the plot may feel familiar,
I think that Straczynski took it in interesting directions, with more of a fusion of man and machine, in some cases. The acting
and characters in the show were really excellent, and were some of the first tv-based dramatic performances I can remember caring about at all
as a kid, when most other non-animated shows (save for the Muppets) just weren't worth my time.

The truly great thing about the show was that you were able to interact with the TV using your toys.
Now, of course you couldn't actually effect the TV picture in any way, but you were able to score points from the 'targets'
on the screen, and they were able to hit your ship. If you suffered enough damage, the pilot cockpit of your ship would
explode! It was also possible to use the ships in livingroom battles, using a different setting (which would activate a flashing
bulb with each shot, allowing a hit to register on your opponent when properly aimed). Several accessories were released,
but like so very many great toy lines, this one died before it's time. The technology has never really surfaced again, and the
way things have advanced isn't likely to, but I felt then, and feel now, that it was ground-breaking, and hope for as many
people to learn about it as I am able to reach.

The Captin Power email list
is, to this day, surprisingly active, complete with 'sightings' of the old actors in new roles, and
discussions of old plots 'surfacing' on new shows. There is even an excellent new website which celebrates the
20th anniversary of the show -
check it out for a tremendous amount of great information.

Be sure to check out the fantastic Captain Power 20th Anniversary site!

THE FUTURE IS NOW!...the late 22nd century...Bio Dreads -- monsterous computer creatures -- now rule the
earth...the sinister cyborg, Lord Dread wants to eliminate all biological life forms...humanity's only
hope lies with CAPTAIN POWER and the Soldiers of the Future!

Vehicles and Playsets

Powerjet XT-7
"It really works!"

Phantom Striker
"They actually fire back!"

Power On Energizer
"Signal on TV actually triggers lights and sounds!"